Early bone healing to implants with different surface characteristics. A pre‐clinical in vivo study

Abstract

AbstractAimTo examine early bone healing around implants with non‐modified and modified surfaces.Material & MethodsFour implants with 4 different surface characteristics were installed in one side of the mandible following tooth extraction in 6 dogs. Implants in group A had a non‐modified, turned surface, while implants in group B had a surface modification consisting of TiO‐blasting and sequential acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid. The surface modification of implants in group C was confined to sequential acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid and Group D implants had a surface modification of TiO‐blasting and acid‐etching in hydrofluoric acid. The implant installation procedures were repeated in the opposite side of the mandible 4 weeks later. Biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis 2 weeks later.ResultsB and C implants had a higher degree of bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC%) than A and D implants at 2 weeks of healing. At 6 weeks of healing, the BIC% was higher at B than at A, C and D implants, and higher at C implants than at A implants. The amount of newly formed bone in contact with the implant within the defect area at 2 weeks was higher at implants with modified surfaces (groups B, C and D) than at implants with a non‐modified surface (group A). Corresponding results at 6 weeks were superior at B implants.ConclusionIt is suggested that an implant surface modification with acid‐etching in oxalic and hydrofluoric acid promotes early formation of bone‐to‐implant contact.